Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge-a place of great variety-is on the
Neosho River at the upper end of John Redmond Reservoir. This large waterfowl management
area, which is in the western portion of the Osage Cuestas, is noted for its diverse
habitats: wetlands, croplands, old fields, and tallgrass prairie. It is home-at one time
of the year or another-to 7 species of woodpeckers, 13 species of flycatchers, 25 species
of sparrows, and 31 species of warblers. Turkey vultures float the thermals on summer
days and fireflies illuminate summer nights. Thousands of Mexico-bound monarch butterflies
migrate through in September. Up to 150 bald eagles and more than 100,000 snow geese may
spend the winter here. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, woodchucks,
raccoons, and many other species hunt and forage year-round. The threatened Neosho madtom,
a small fish, haunts the gravel bars in the Neosho River that winds through the refuge.
Spiderwort, ragwort, and phlox bloom in spring. Sunflowers and silphium flower in summer,
and goldenrods and asters blossom in fall. In summer, upland sandpipers, dickcissels,
grasshopper sparrows, and eastern meadowlarks are commonly seen singing from fenceposts.
At Goose Bend Marsh watch for waders such as great blue and green-backed herons feeding on
fish and leopard frogs. Look also for ducks, muskrats, and several species of water
snakes. The Dove Roost Trail is a good spot for observing songbirds, fox squirrels,
white-tailed deer, and cottontail rabbits. The Burgess Trail (handicap accessible) follows
the top of the dike and the Hartford Trail goes through river-bottom timber.

Directions:From
the 1-35 and the K-130 turnoff (Exit 141, just east of
Emporia), travel 8 miles south to Flint Hills National
Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at Hartford. Checklists, maps, and brochures are available.
For a Google Map of this site,
click here.

Ownership:The
entity responsible for management of the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is
the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. Contact them at (620) 392-5553
if you have specific questions about use or management of this area.Click here to visit their website.

The area between the
Flint Hills and the Ozarks of Missouri is called the Osage Cuestas. From a geological
standpoint, alternating limestones and shales of the
upper Pennsylvanian/lower Permian geological ages
(310 to 290 million years ago)produced a band of
rolling hills with distinctive steep slopes at one end and gentle
slopes at the other,which
looks like a tilted stair case from a distance.

This
region was predominantly tallgrass prairie prior to
settlement, dating back 10,000 years to the end of the Pleistocene.
With 30 to 40 inches per year average precipitation,there was enough moisture
to support a forest in this area. Woody vegetation
was held at bay,however, by periodic droughts,
lightning-initiated fires, and by heavy grazing of bison and elk. The Native Americans
also set fires to maintain forage for their most needed commodity, the bison. Today, the
bison and elk are gone, the former grassland has been turned to cropland or protected
from fire, and trees and shrubs have invaded many of the
remaining prairies - even to the hilltops in some places.

John Redmond Reservoir spans the broad floodplain of the Neosho River near
the town of New Strawn. Located in the Central Flyway, Redmond is an important stopover
for many species of migrating waterfowl. The nearby croplands of wheat, corn, and milo
provide food for the migrating birds. During migrations greater and lesser yellowlegs,
long-billed dowitchers, and other shorebirds are found in the mudflats. The surrounding
bluestem pastures support many grassland animals. John
Redmond Wildlife Area, along Otter Creek
on the southwest side of the lake, is managed to
maintain ample food, cover, and breeding areas for wildlife. In winter bald eagles perch
in trees near the dam, and rough-legged hawks float overhead. Thousands of snow geese are
in the area during the winter. Year-round, white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, cottontail
rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and coyotes can be seen in the Otter Creek area. In summer,
look in the shallow waters for great blue and green-backed herons. Be sure to visit the
18,500-acre Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge at the northern end of the lake.

96 Utility campsites, Primitive camping also

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Hickory Creek Trail (14.1
miles).

Click the icon to find a birding list for Coffey County.

Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches

Directions: To
reach the dam, take U.S. 75 to the south end of New Strawn. Turn west, then follow the
Redmond road southwest, a little over 1 mile. Maps and other information are available at
the Corps of Engineers Information Center northeast of the dam.
For a Google Map of this site,
click here.

Ownership:The entities responsible for management of John Redmond are
below. Contact them if you have specific questions about use or management
of this area.

US
Army Corps of Engineers (620) 364-8614; 10,870 acresClick
here to visit the US ACE John Redmond Reservoir web page. Click the icon for the Corps
map of the lake.

The John Redmond Wildlife Area is managed by the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks &
Tourism;
(620) 637-2748; 1,637 acres
You may download the KDWPT brochure for the John Redmond Wildlife Area from
their website.

Good in any season! Situated in the rolling tallgrass prairies and wooded
valleys of the Flint and Chautauqua hills, Fall River Lake is a picturesque site with
diverse habitat. Fall River and its tributaries are lined with oak, hickory, walnut, elm,
and hackberry trees. Grasses and wildflowers dominate the uplands. Ragweed, mares-tail,
foxtail, annual and Maximilian sunflower are found around the edges of fields and along
roadways. All provide food, cover, and reproduction places for more than 400 species of
wildlife. Spring brings the booming of greater prairie chickens to the grasslands.
Scissor-tailed flycatchers, Henslow's sparrows, eastern bluebirds, and northern orioles
can be seen in spring and summer. Bald eagles are common in the Fredonia Bay area in
winter. Canada geese are found year-round in Quarry Bay. The quarry is a great spot to
look for reptiles. Wild turkey, deer, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, fox squirrels, beaver,
and northern bobwhite quail are year-round residents. In the woodlands are northern
flickers and downy and pileated woodpeckers. During migrations waterfowl can be seen from
the observation blind in the northeast part of the wildlife area. Expect to see
bufflehead, scaup, mergansers, pintails, shovelers, and lots of mallards. The mudflats may
produce American avocets, as well as sandpipers and plovers. Large flocks of white
pelicans are sometimes seen on the open waters.

Directions: From
K-96 at the north edge of the town of Fall River, follow the signs north 3 miles to the dam. At the
Corps of Engineers Information Center, on the west side of the dam, you can pick up maps,
checklists, and other information.For a Google Map of this site,
click here.

Ownership:The entities responsible for management of Fall River are
below. Contact them if you have specific questions about use or management
of this area.

US
Army Corps of Engineers (620) 658-4445; 10,270 acresClick
here to visit the US ACE Fall River Lake web page. Click the icon for the Corps
map of the lake.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism (620)
637-2213Click here to visit the
KDWPT web page for Fall River State Park.You may download the KDWP brochure for Fall River State Park
and Wildlife Area or email the Park Manager from the link on
the top of that page.

The undulating grasslands and timbered valleys of the Osage Cuestas make
Elk City Lake one of the most exquisite spots in Kansas. The many trails, including the
nationally recognized Elk River Hiking Trail, provide spectacular vistas of the lake and
wind through some of the most appealing rock formations in the state. November through
March are great months to see thousands of snow geese and their greater white-fronted and
Canada cousins grazing the wheat fields near the wildlife refuge. Winter woodland birds
include kinglets, brown creepers, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and Carolina
chickadees. Bald eagles, common and popular winter residents, can be best viewed in the
standing timber of the backwaters of the upper reaches of the lake, particularly near Card
Creek campground. Look for wood ducks there also. During spring and summer watch for
woodpeckers, blue jays, and flycatchers. Neotropical birds, such as indigo and painted
buntings, summer tanagers, northern parula, and prothonotary warblers, nest in this area.
Ducks and large flocks of American white pelicans migrate through here. The woods are
inhabited by pileated woodpeckers and red-tailed hawks year-round. Gray treefrogs,
collared lizards, five-lined skinks, and ringneck snakes are active in spring and summer.
Deer, squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, gray foxes, beavers, and raccoons are sometimes
seen in the early morning and evening hours.

Directions:Travel 1 mile west of Independence on U.S. 160. Follow the signs about 3 miles to the park
office. The Corps of Engineers Information Center is a little over 3 miles northwest of
the park office, just west of the dam. Maps, trail guides, and permits are available at
both locations. For a Google Map of this site,
click here.

Ownership:The entities responsible for management of Elk City are
below. Contact them if you have specific questions about use or management
of this area.

US
Army Corps of Engineers (620) 331-0315; 13,000 acresClick
here to visit the US ACE Elk City Lake web page. Click the icon for the Corps
map of the lake.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism (620)
331-6295Click here to visit the
KDWPT web page for Elk City State Park.You may download the KDWPT brochure for Elk City State Park
and Wildlife Areaor email the Park Manager from the links on
the top of that page.

Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form.